Property of a Lady
An oriental darter (anhinga melanogaster), India, Lucknow, Company School, circa 1780
Auction Closed
April 30, 03:48 PM GMT
Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
watercolour, pen and ink, heightened with bodycolour and gum arabic on paper, laid down on stout green paper, mount attached with coloured rules, Urdu inscription in black nasta'liq centre right, framed
64 by 47.5cm.
Major General Claude Martin (1735-1800)
Arthur Jeffries Gallery, London
From whom acquired in 1956 by the Hon. Michael Astor (1916-80)
Thence by inheritance to the present owner
inscription
ghota khor hindawi banua
‘Diver. Hindavi [name], Banua’
The oriental darter is a black cormorant like bird. Favoured habitats are streams, rivers, village tanks and jheels (lakes) with submerged trees. The darter is an expert diver and swimmer and spends most of its time submerged in the water.